Move said to clear the way for more ShopRite Square revitalization

continued  The purchase will also reduce the jumble of property owners in the plaza to three instead of four.

IMCC is purchasing developer Reginald Scott’s last property in the plaza. The front portion of the property, which the former restaurant abuts, is also owned by IMCC. Another company owns the ShopRite section, with the back portion also under different ownership.

ShopRite is expanding its store by leasing an additional 1,200 square feet of space adjacent to its store, which brings the store’s total footprint to 56,200 square feet. The additional space will help ShopRite meet increased demands from its shop-at-home service, which allows to people to purchase groceries online and pick them up at the store later.

“The overwhelming success of our ShopRite from Home service has created the need to expand the department,” Tom Urtz, vice president of Human Resources and Community Affairs for ShopRite, said in a statement. “We are pleased that this opportunity has presented itself so we can better serve the needs of our loyal customers.”

TCBY Yogurt also recently opened in the plaza next to Starbucks and ShopRite.

The former St. James Square limped on for many years after the former Farm Fresh supermarket closed its doors in 2004 after six months of being in operation. Grand Union left the site in 2001 after the company went bankrupt.

The ShopRite project was a $12 million investment and the store opened its doors last fall. The Niskayuna store was the first to be built in the Capital District, and it was followed by an Albany location. ShopRite also has committed to building a store at Vista Technology Park in Slingerlands and is looking to hire employees.